IS GENDER segregation in golf acceptable in the 21st Century?
Of course not but, sadly, that’s the question we still face today following Muirfield Golf Club’s mind-boggling decision to retain its male-only membership.
Credit to the R&A for making their stance on the matter loud and clear by banishing one of the most iconic venues from its British Open rota. There’s no question Muirfield is one of the world’s best links courses – a prized par-70 layout in the UK that has forever thrown down a challenge for the world’s best players thanks to 151 bunkers, brutal rough and its formidable length. It’s a crying shame the course won’t be used as a venue for The Open moving forward but it’s an appropriate punishment for a club that refuses to let go of its archaic past.
The deeper issue here is that a number of clubs, particularly ones that were formed long ago like Muirfield, remain change resistant. Managing change is a challenge today as we live in a constantly evolving society. Maintaining the culture and traditions of the club that members are accustomed to whilst adapting to the future is difficult for a generation stuck in their ways. But the fact of the matter is clubs must put emphasis on this social issue in order to keep up with the modern attitude towards gender equality or risk running their club into the ground.
Western society at large has shifted its focus to promoting equal opportunity for men and women, and this is generally thought of as a progressive attitude. This is one that should be fostered in the golf industry, too, if the sport is to be respected and able to prosper.
Unfortunately, Muirfield – or the rather poorly named “Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers”– have done little to shift this attitude on the sport’s grandest stage after their membership vote failed to reach a two-thirds majority in favour of allowing female members to join the club. The public relations damage this postal vote caused the sport, just months out from golf’s return to the Olympic Games, will take considerable repairing.
Not allowing women into a golf club is antiquated and not what a sport crying out for a new generation and demographic needs. With continued pressure from the R&A and more incensed reactions from the general public and tour players like Rory McIlroy, one can only hope Muirfield’s board will have the courage and common sense to ditch their prehistoric policies for good – and maybe a third of their members.
• Annabel Rolley is an Australian Golf Professional and the new host of Australian Golf Digest TV. annabelrolley.com
